The official ground-breaking at YMCA National Centre Lakeside to commence the construction of the YMCA Lakeside Stoller Campus

Seven years of hopes, dreams and hard work have reached fruition as the big build on the new Schools facility commences at YMCA Lakeside in Newby Bridge. The start of April sees the diggers come in and the hard hats come out as work starts on the impressive new £6.8m project.

Artist’s impression of the new schools facility

The outdoor education centre has welcomed over 1 million young people since opening its doors over 60 years ago. With work on the new School and Youth facility now starting, Lakeside will be able to grow the amount and quality of accommodation ensuring a more stimulating and inspiring place to learn.

Cassidy & Ashton from Preston have been appointed to act as the lead consultant overseeing the final design and building phase. Working with quantity surveyors Thornber & Walker, services consultants Beech Jackson Partnership and structuring & civil consultant Curtins Consulting Ltd, the team will ensure that the project is successfully completed by the end of May 2019.

Alistair Baines Chairman of Cassidy & Ashton commented ‘We are delighted to be involved in this very exciting project in what can only be described as a beautiful location on the shores of Lake Windermere at the heart of the National Park. We fully appreciate the importance of this project to the YMCA going forward and are proud to be involved in helping to deliver a significant development of the Lakeside centre that will undoubtedly provide long term, sustainable facilities for the Trust.’

John Cronin CEO of YMCA Fylde Coast stated ‘We have worked hard to get to this stage of the project. I’d like to thank everybody involved – from the tireless fundraisers to all our incredibly loyal supporters who have ensured we can actually build this amazing new facility. This will impact on the lives of 10,000 young people every year.”

Today’s ground breaking ceremony was attended by the main build contractors, the award winning Lancashire construction company Conlon. Having most recently worked on the historic Low Wood Bay Resort & Spa Hotel, this was an opportunity for construction boss, Michael Conlon to view Lake Windermere from another stunning vantage point.

For Lakeside YMCA this isn’t the end of the story. Fundraising continues apace with Lakeland’s Sam Rayner energetically campaigning for funds to see the project to completion including a forthcoming Yes Chef event. Working with the best chefs in the North of England, May 3rd will see 3 “Yes Chef!” black tie dinners & charity auctions simultaneously hosted at Kendal College, Bartle Hall and Manchester’s The Monastery.

Having raised over 90% of the £6.8m needed to create the new facility, it is hoped that the Yes Chef”! foodie events will provide the final portion of build funding.

As a charity YMCA are well versed in creative funding. The sheer scale of this project is testament to that. Interested local supporters should watch this space for the next big drive as YMCA seek out sponsors for beds for the state of the art new accommodation.